Benitez told Alonso to snub Liverpool and stay in Leverkusen

Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has warned Xabi Alonso not to rush into taking the Liverpool job as the Bayern Leverkusen manager continues to be linked with replacing Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.

Alonso is seen as the number-one target to replace Klopp after the German announced he would depart at the end of the season.

The 42-year-old, who was an instrumental figure in Benitez’s Champions League-winning Liverpool side, has Leverkusen eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and yet to lose a league game.

The Spaniard has also been linked with the Bayern Munich job after they announced Thomas Tuchel would depart at the end of the season.

Benitez, however, has cautioned Alonso about the dangers of taking the next step in his career too soon, especially in the modern social media age.

‘He’s a big name, good professional, good lad, clever, doing well with Leverkusen so I understand why [Alonso is being linked],’ Benitez said in an interview with The Times.

‘[But] imagine that Steven Gerrard could be around and doing well. Then it would be ‘Gerrard!’

 ‘He has the potential to be a very good manager and if he has good players he will be successful, but then can he do it for five years, ten years? I don’t know.

‘He can go to any top side now but they will be expecting to win the title. And if you finish second, maybe it’s a great season but people will say, “Oh, he’s failed”.

‘In the past, you could make a mistake somewhere, learn from it and the next year go to another team. Now social media and the press are “blah blah” — it can affect young coaches.’

Reports in Germany suggest that Liverpool have already reached out to Alonso’s agent Inaki Ibanez as they look to secure him as the club’s next manager.

Leverkusen’s sporting director, meanwhile, has said he is ‘calm’ and ‘optimistic’ that Alonso will snub approaches for him in the summer and remain with the club next season.